Agtr1 as a marker for bevacizumab combination therapies

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for assessing the responsiveness or sensitivity of a patient to bevacizumab, compositions comprising bevacizumab and methods of treating patients with bevacizumab.

1 . A method for identifying a locally advanced, Her2 negative breast cancer patient responsive or sensitive to bevacizumab treatment,
 the method comprising determining the expression level of angiotensin II type receptor 1 (AGTR1) in a biological sample of the patient,   identifying the patient as responsive to or sensitive to bevacizumab treatment when an increased expression level of AGTR1 compared to a control level is detected in the sample of the patient, and   administering said bevacizumab treatment to the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said treatment further comprises chemotherapy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said bevacizumab treatment is administered before or after said chemotherapy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said chemotherapy comprises docetaxel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said chemotherapy comprises doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said expression level of AGTR1 is determined by detecting protein or mRNA. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said expression level of AGTR1 is measured by an immunohistochemical (IHC) method or a PCR method. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said biological sample is a breast tissue biopsy sample or breast tissue resection sample. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said treatment further comprises one or more anti-cancer therapies. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said anti-cancer therapy is radiation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample was obtained before neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating locally advanced, Her2 negative breast cancer, the method comprising administering an effective amount of bevacizumab to a patient identified as responsive or sensitive to bevacizumab therapy, wherein the patient was identified as responsive or sensitive to bevacizumab therapy by detecting an increased expression level of angiotensin II type receptor 1 (AGTR1) in a biological sample from the patient compared to a control level.